TAAN hosts luncheon for Tibetan delegates

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) hosted a luncheon for the delegates of 9^th Nepal Tibet (TAR- PR China) Joint Tourism Coordination Committee in Bhaktapur on June 28.

The committee is a bilateral forum of tourism stakeholders of Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of People's Republic of China.

TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal as well as officer-bearers and executive members welcomed Tibetan delegates, who are in Kathmandu to attend the 9^th meeting, by offering khadas. He also offered 'Nepali Dhaka Topi' and 'Palpali Karuwa' as souvenirs to the delegates.

Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China have signed a 16-point memorandum of understanding for bilateral tourism promotion.

 The agreement was reached at the end of the 9th meeting that concluded here on June 28. Both the sides reviewed the progress achieved on the understandings made in the previous meetings. The two sides also emphasized the need for further promoting tourism cooperation by exploiting tourism potentials in both Nepal and Tibet.

Nepal and Tibet have agreed to start talks for making uniform rules and regulations regarding age limit, disabilities etc in climbing border mountains.

The Nepali delegation in JTCC was led by Director General at the Department of Tourism Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal and while Vice Director General of the Tibet Tourism Development Committee Ga Ma Ze Deng led the Tibetan delegation.

The 10th meeting of the Joint Tourism Coordination Committee will be held in TAR of China in 2017.

Representatives from Department of Tourism as well as different travel trade associations were present in the program.

Similarly, TAAN First President Tej Bahadur Gurung, 2^nd Vice President Ram Prasad Sapkota, General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama, Joint Treasurer Krishna Man Shrestha as well as Executive Committee members Sarita Lama, Nawang Nima Sherpa, Devi Prasad Pandey, Wangchu Sherpa, Taranath Lamichhane 'Dinesh', Pemba Sherpa 'Sangam', Surya Bahadur Ghimire, Dawa Lama Tamang and Shital Chandra Dharel were also present in the program.

  

Everest trekking part Dingboche

                                        Dingboche

Lhost (8501m) 27 890ft) dominates Dingboche and the whole of the lamja valley. It’s The fourth highest mountain in the world and while its name (meaning South peak) seems to demote it to mere appendage of the higher mount Everest it is an apt description for is indeed the southernmost peak of the Everest massif. The first attempt to climb Lhostse was made in the post monsoon season of 1955 by a multi-national expedition led by the Swiss American Norman Debenture who with Ernst seen and the cartographer Erwin Schneider spent nearly five months on a thorough reconnaissance of the area before launching their attack on the North- west face. Although Dyhrenfurth’s expedition failed to reach the summit the first ascent was made the following year by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsingerof a Swiss expedition led by Albert Eggler. To date it remains the least climbed of any 8000m peak. Everest trekking, Everest base camp trekking

Adventure Travel Guide training concludes

   A week long 'Adventure Travel Guide' training organized by SAMARTH-NMDP in association with Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) concluded in Kathmandu on June 20. Altogether 22 trekking guides associated with different trekking companies participated in the training. Theoretical classes were conducted at TAAN Secretariat in Maligaun while practical classes were held in Shivapuri National Park. Wilderness First Aid Training was also organized for the participants along with the Adventure Travel Guide training. Certificate of completion was handed over to the participants in the closing ceremony organized in Kathmandu. Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur Mahat handed over training certificates to the participants. Speaking at the program, Mahat urged all the participants make best use of the training. "Production of trained hands for the adventure tourism industry is always good news. I thank TAAN and SAMARTH-NMDP and TAAN for taking the initiative," he added. Similarly, Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, director general of Department of Tourism, thanked the institutions involved in organizing the training. "We are in the process of amending different laws related to tourism sector. In the amendments, we will all the burning issues of the tourism industry," he added.

TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal said the training was TAAN's yet another effort to produce trained manpower for the adventure tourism sector. "We have been organizing series of trainings on mountain safety, photography, first aid, business correspondence and SEO, among others, for people involved in trekking industry. These training not only enhances their professionalism but also improves our service delivery," he added. "As guides are the true ambassador of tourism industry, their capacity must be developed to better serve tourists." He also said he was hopeful that the trained guides will bring to use what they learn during the training. The 'Adventure Tourism Guide' is certified by ATTA and it is recognized throughout the world. Similarly, the license of Wilderness First Aid Training is valid till July 2019. Earlier, Shital Chandra Dharel, coordinator of Training & Human Resources Department of TAAN, welcomed all the participants and said he was hopeful that the training has instilled confidence on guides to handle groups in even the harshest scenario. Representatives of Nepal Association of Travel and Hotel Management, SAMARTH-NMDP and ATTA were present in the program emceed by TAAN Secretary Mukti Poudel. TAAN 1^st Vice President Tej Bahadur Gurung, 2nd Vice President Ram Prasad Sapkota, General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama, Joint Treasurer Krishna Man Shrestha and Executive Members Sarita Lama, Ngawang Nima Sherpa, Wangchu Sherpa, Tara Nath Lamichhane, Pemba Sherpa, Dawa Lama Tamang and Surya Bahadur Ghimire were also present at the program.  Source by TAAN.

              

Drive to protect Begnas from Jalakumbi launched

The Lekhnath Municipality, with the support of various organisations, has launched a campaign in a bid to free the Begnas Lake from the infestation of Jalakumbhi plants (water hyacinth) and keep its pristine beauty alive. 

Ceed Foundation and Hotel and Restaurant Association, Kaski are among those organisations cooperating with the Municipality in its efforts aims to control the encroachment of this aquatic plant on the lake. 

The campaign will run for two months, Foundation Director Damodar Bhakta Thapa said. The Municipality has released Rs 200,000 and Foundation and Association contributed Rs 25,000 each to launch the campaign. Every day, there will be around 40 people to remove the plants from the lake, he said. 

  

  

2nd National Canyoning Rendezvous concludes

Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA) organized 2^nd National Canyoning Rendezvous 2016 in Chahare Jharana of Nuwakot district on June 3 and 4.

The two-day event was promoted by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN).

TAAN 2^nd Vice President Ram Prasad Sapkota inaugurated the event amid a function held on June 3. Before the inauguration ceremony, locals with traditional musical troupe escorted the Chief Guest, other guests and members of the organizers, and media persons to the canyoning site.

Inaugurating the event, Sapkota said canyoning needs to be promoted effectively in national and international market as the adventure sport holds great tourism potential. He also said TAAN would do its bit to promote canyoning in Nepal.

TAAN Secretary Mukti Pandey was also present in the inauguration ceremony. He also enjoyed canyoning in the Chahare Jharana.

Later in the day, 2^nd Vice President Sapkota gave away certificate of participation to 25 Nepali as well as foreign canyoners.

Similarly, TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama, who was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony, said there are plenty of canyoning spots in the mid-hills yet to be explored. "It is good to know that people have started enjoying canyoning. Nepalis as well as foreigners are enjoying this adventure sport," he added.

Likewise, Rajendra Lama, president of NCA, said the rendezvous is their effort to develop canyoning as an adventure tourism product. "Along with promoting this adventure sport, we are also producing guides because we are going to need more guides when this sport becomes popular," he added. He also informed that NCA was training 10 guides in the Chahare Jharana.

Lama also thanked NTB and TAAN as well as other supports and sponsors who helped to make the event a grand success. source by TAAN